Wesley Corpus

Did he not work “real and undoubted miracles?” And what was the effect? Still, when “he came to his own, his own received him not.” Still “he was despised and rejected of men.” Still it was a challenge not to be answered: “Have any of the rulers or of the Phari sees believed on him?” After this, how can you imagine, that whoever works miracles must convince “all men of the truth of his pretences?” I would just remind you of only one instance more: “There sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked. The same heard Paul speak; who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiv ing that he had faith to be healed, said, with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.” Here was so undoubted a miracle, that the people “lifted up their voices, saying, The Gods are come down in the likeness of men.” But how long were even these convinced of the truth of his pretences? Only till “there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium;’ and then they stoned him (as they supposed) to death ! (Acts xiv. 8, &c.) So certain it is, that no miracles whatever, which were ever yet wrought in the world, were effectual to prove the most glaring truth, to those that hardened their hearts against it. 4. And it will equally hold in every age and nation. “If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be’” con vinced of what they desire not to believe, “though one rose from the dead.” Without a miracle, without one rising from the dead, eav tis 6exy to 6exmua avtov Troueuv, “if any man be willing to do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God.” But if he is not willing to do his will, he will never want an excuse, a plausible reason, for rejecting it. Yea, though ever so many miracles were wrought to confirm it.